"For them, he's always Neeraj bhaiya" - IIS CEO Rushdee Warley shares heartwarming story of Neeraj Chopra's kindness upon his return after Olympic win

It is not often that stories like this surface, but when they do, they speak volumes about the character of the individual. Neeraj Chopra, the golden boy of Indian athletics, is a prime example of such a narrative. Despite his monumental achievement of winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Neeraj remains grounded, true to his roots, and endearingly humble.

Anyone who has interacted with Neeraj will tell you that he is one of the most down-to-earth and warm individuals you will ever meet. His rise in fame has not altered his personality; Neeraj Chopra remains the same person, always ready to extend a helping hand and connect with people around him.

In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Rushdee Warley, CEO of the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), shared one such remarkable and extremely wholesome story about Neeraj Chopra that perfectly encapsulates his character.

"We had a ceremony for him, the felicitations ceremony after he won in Tokyo and he came here, as did the likes of Ravi Dahiya and some of the hockey players and everybody else. And we did this whole big ceremony and all the kids were out in the combat hall," Warley recalled.

After the ceremony, everyone, including Neeraj and other dignitaries, moved over to Hampi House for lunch. Amidst the celebration, Neeraj quietly slipped away, unnoticed by most. When people began wondering about his whereabouts, it was discovered that Neeraj had left the luncheon to spend time with the kids who had been there to support him during his rehabilitation process.

“Everybody [was] like, Oh, where's Neeraj? And Neeraj had slipped away from that to come here [the hall] to speak to the kids that he didn't get a chance to speak to,” Warley narrated.

These children, who had stood by him during his challenging times, looked up to him as their hero, affectionately calling him "Neeraj bhaiya" (brother). Neeraj, understanding their admiration and respect, chose to be with them, showing that despite his superstar status, he remains their beloved "Neeraj bhaiya."

"For them, he's always Neeraj bhaiya. That's what he is to them, and he will always be. When he walks in here, it's not Neeraj Superstar; it's not Neeraj; it’s Neeraj brother, Neeraj bhaiya," IIS CEO emphasized.

"The fact that he took the time and effort after becoming an Olympic champion to come and see the kids that he knew idolized him that he knew, thought so much of him that were there for him when, you know, when he was going through a challenging time with his rehab and recovery speaks a lot of the man," Warley added.

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“He's a great person” - Rushdee Warley on Neeraj Chopra

At 26, Neeraj Chopra is already a gold medalist at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Diamond League, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games. However, Neeraj's journey has not been without its challenges.

During a particularly difficult period, when he was injured, Neeraj decided to undergo rehab at the Inspire Institute of Sports. The comprehensive approach to his rehabilitation was crucial, and the support from the people around him played a significant role in his recovery.

"Neeraj came here at a challenging time, particularly when he was injured. Knowing that there was a 360-degree approach to his rehabilitation and knowing that the people around him were fully committed to ensuring he had the best opportunity to recover and rehabilitate was extremely important," Warley shared.

Warley also recalled a personal moment he shared with Neeraj:

"I remember he was here a couple of times, and I jumped on the track next to him. We did a couple of sprints, and needless to say, Neeraj put me to shame. But it was fun; it was an opportunity to just chat. He's just that kind of person, a great person," he concluded.

Neeraj Chopra is set to defend his Olympic gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics and will begin his campaign on August 6.